290 ANATIDJE. 



quite unable to fly, are to be seen in January and February, so 

 that the eggs were probably hatched in December. 



The eggs are of the usual broad oval type, in texture compact and 

 smooth, but without the polish and gloss which characterize the 

 somewhat similar eggs o the Comb Duck. In colour too they are 

 when fresh white or greyish white, and never, so far as I have 

 yet seen, exhibit that creamy or ivory tinge already noticed in the 

 case of the Comb Duck and Cotton Teal. 



As incubation proceeds, they become yellowish and sullied, 

 and hard-set eggs are occasionally a very dingy and pale earth- 

 brown. 



The eggs vary in length from 2*08 to 2*3, and in breadth from 

 1-65 to 1-8 ; but the average of fifteen eggs is 2-15 by T70. 



Rhodonessa caryophyllacea (Lath.). The Pink-headed Duck. 



Anas caryophyllacea, Lath., Jerd. 23. I/id, ii, p. 800 ; Hume, JRow/h 

 Vraft'N. fyE.no. 960. 



Of the Pink-headed Duck Dr. Jerdon says : " It breeds towards 

 the end of the hot season, and its eggs are said to be laid amongst 

 thick grass not far from the water." 



Mr. F. A. Shillingford sent me the following note : " On the 

 3rd July, Mr. T. Hill, of Jouneah Factory, succeeded in finding a 

 nest of the Pink-headed Duck near the Dabeepoor Factory. 



" The nest contained nine much incubated eggs, of which I send 

 you five. These, as you will observe, are of precisely the same type 

 as the one I formerly sent you. 



" The nest was well hidden in tall grass (Andropoyon muricatum), 

 and both male and female were started from the vicinity of the 

 nest, which was about 400 yards from a nullah containing water. 

 The nest was well formed, made of dry grass, interspersed with 

 a few feathers, the interior portion being circular and about 9 

 inches in diameter, and 4 to 5 inches deep." 



The eggs are quite unlike those of any other Duck with which I 

 am acquainted. In shape they are very nearly spherical ; indeed 

 one is almost a perfect sphere. 



The shell is very close and compact, but not particularly smooth 

 or satiny to the touch, and is entirely devoid of gloss. 



In colour it is a dull, nearly pure white, with here and there 

 traces of an extremely faint yellowish mottling, probably the 

 result of dirt. Even held up against the light, the shell is white, 

 with a scarcely perceptible ivory tinge. 



The five eggs sent me by Mr. Shillingford measure as follows : 

 1-82 by 1-7, 1-78 by 1-68, 1-8 by 1-62, 171 bv 1-69, 1-81 by 

 1-61. 



duerquedula gibberifrons (S. Mull.). The Oceanic Teal. 



Mareca gibberifrons (AS'. Milll), Hume, JRouyh Draft N. d 



no. 963 bis. 

 Querquedula gibberifrons (S. Mull.),Httma, Cat. no. 936 ter. 



